We’re their mentors, not their mothers!
X Factor judges rule out curfew on contestants – so are they secretly praying for MORE scandalous behaviour like Frankie Cocozza’s?
THE last series generated a string of negative headlines about contestants partying late into the night, bed-hopping and – in one case – boasting about drug-taking.
So as The X Factor returned to our screens last night, many expected ITV bosses to adopt a stricter approach.
But far from enforcing rigid curfews and sex bans to avoid further scandals, new judge Nicole Scherzinger said last night she was relaxed about the behaviour of hopefuls on the show.
The former Pussycat Dolls star, 34, said: ‘We are not their mums – we are their mentors.’
Her comments were echoed by fellow judge, N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos, who has returned to the panel along with Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh.
Tulisa, 24, said: ‘Everyone knows that with my acts I will crack the whip. But I also make space for play-time. Last year I took my acts out clubbing.
‘It’s not meant to be a gruelling military operation. You are meant to be fulfilling your dreams and you have to enjoy that.’
Tulisa also defended Cocozza, now 19, who was expelled after he bragged about taking Class A drugs in front of a member of the production team. She said: ‘Frankie was over at my dad’s house with Dappy [her cousin and fellow N-Dubz star] the other day, so that says it all. What were you doing at that age? What do you expect? Everyone needs to enjoy themselves.’
The antics of last year’s contestants led to a lot of publicity for the show. Tulisa reportedly axed six contestants after they broke a sex ban and there were warnings that others were putting their voices at risk with their late-night partying.
The judges’ comments will reinforce the views of some critics that producers want acts to misbehave to attract headlines. Last year, The X Factor was repeatedly beaten in the ratings by Strictly Come Danc- ing. In June, a programme source was quoted as saying: ‘Last year it was decidedly flat. Only Frankie got up to anything newsworthy.’
In addition to some outstanding performances, last night’s show featured furious scenes when the judges rejected Pink tribute act Zoe Alexander, who then swore, threw her microphone and pushed a cameraman as she stormed off stage.
Meanwhile, guest judge Mel B lived up to her Scary Spice nickname by delivering a series of withering put-downs to hopefuls.
ITV is gambling on Simon Cowell to deliver ratings gold and yesterday handed almost three hours of the prime-time schedule to shows produced by his Syco company. The X Factor was sandwiched between two episodes of quiz show Red Or Black?, the first beginning at 7.15pm and the second finishing at 10pm.